Sizer



Nov; 16, 1937.

vH. PAXTONl SIZER h Filed Jan. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. PAXTON Nov. 16,A 1937.

sIzER Filed Jan. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iPaftenteci Nov. 16, 11937 e irs SIZER -Hale Paxton, ,Santas Ana,..Calif., assigner, by mesne. assignments, to Food .Machinery Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 7,18, 1935,.,seria1fNe 2,7367

17 Claims. YThis` invention has to do with thev art; of separating rollable articles: in accordancewith their isizesand has particular utility inthejsizing of f-fresh! fruit such as oranges', lemons, andapples.

f ThisY invention aims, among .other things;yat

.satisfying the followingcornmercial needs: first, ,theyneed for" ae'relatively inexpensive,` eicient and long lived sizing apparatus; second, the need VVforaasizing apparatus lwhich is relatively short in lengththough broadfthird,V the need for a sizing apparatus having a large capacity relative to its isize; fourth, the need for a sizing apparatus havingl a high degree of accuracy; fth, the need for agsizing apparatus which maybe relatively easily, adjusted vto change thesizes `into which :articles are `segregated. there; and'sixth,. the need for a sizing apparatus which handles fresh-fruit y gently.v y

Y seen in Fig. 3. y sides Vof the angle bars'2r9 and 30 are aligned -Theseas well asnumerous*otherobjects V'and advantages are realized in the .invention as will be seen by referenceto'the following description taken `in connection with'. the; accompanying drawings :in which:

Fig: l isA an end View of apreferred embodiment of my invention. .v

' 1 Fig'.,2is a'vertical sectionalwviewxtaken `on the line 2 2 of Fig.l.

lFig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken onthe line. 3 3 o1 ,Fig..2.v f i .Figel is a'vertical sectional view ,taken'fon the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 'l showing` a` modified form of my invention.

Referring speciiically to lthe, drawingspa sizer I3, comprising apreferred embcdimentof my invention is shown in Fig. 1. The sizer llll includes a frame II, a rotor l2`and a mandrel I3. The frame H includesv a pair of vertical pipes 20 at the right side of` the sizer l'asviewed in Fig. l and a second pairrof pipes 2l at theleft sidethereof.y The posts 2Dand v2| extend upward from a oor (not shown) Screwed onto the upper ends of the pipes 2Q are Ls Z2 into which the ends of horizontal pipes 23 and 24 are opposite ends tothe angle bars 29 and 3D are eachfofthese havingannular V grooves ll. Conright and .left transverse tie rods 3| and 32 as Fixed centrally on Vthe! upper bearings 33 and 34 as seen in Fig. 2. Each of the bearings 33 and 34 hasV a Vliange `35 formed `"hereinafter. l

(ci. 20er-106) to the bearing`33, as shown-.in Fig. 2 is a gear {whelf'i the'functionof which'will'be made clear 5 Slidable vertically in theY slideways 330i the bearings -33and 34 are circular cams 39 and 45. AProvided on the cam '33 are graduations 4l, the

latter-being adjacenteJ finger 42 mounted on the flange 35 of bearing 33 as shown in Fig. 1. Provided onf'each ofl the cams 39 and 4l) are pins @4.

Mounted on the angle bars 29 and 3@ are bear--` ings [l5fand 46 in'which a transverse shaft il is journaled. Keyed to one end of the shaftil on voppositesides of the bearing 45 are arms 5l andA t'i the former `being bfurcated to receive the pin '44a-:of earn 39 while thelatter kis tapped at its extremity tovreceive a threaded adjusting screw 53 `thel latterV having alock nut 54 thereon. 'shown in Fig; l the bearing 45 has a lug 55 disi posed in `abutment with one end of the screw 53; ''Keyedto the end of the shaft opposite the be1l'fcra1k5il-=is'-an arm 53 bifurcatedY at its ex- Ltrernity -toreceivethe pin 44 of the cam4ll. 'willffbe noted that ladjustment of thefscrew 53 causes thejshavft-ll torotate thus swinging the arms 5l `and` `56 andthereby causing equal veriitical movement of the cams 39 and 40.

"*M'ountedfon theangle bars 29 and 33 are U 'shapedfcams 60 shaped as shown in Fig. 4, these A cams being positioned in vertical alignment with the-icircular cams 33v and 40.

'f-"The-frotorjlZ includes a shaftv 65 rotatably Avmountedinl the bearings 33 and 34, a sprocket beiii'gredon-'one end ofthe shaft 65 for drivingthe latter. Keyed on the shaft 65 adjacent y"thebearings 33 and 34 are discs 6l and 68, the

latter being formedl to provide radial slotsy 39. Rotatablym'ountedin the disc (il is a short shaft lt having pinionsll and 'l2 xed on its opposite "ends, `vThepinion 'll meshes with the gear 331 which i'srxed onthe bearing 33. Carried by n the 'discs' 3l and-68de a-plura1ity of shafts lll, opposite ends of each of these being squared and received byl aligned slots E9 of the discs 6l iandrr Rctatablymounted onopposite ends of Veach""off"the shafts-l4 are vrollers 'l5 positioned jin radial'aligrment with the cams 39, 69, 43, and '61. Rotatable on the shafts 14 between the discs ki'l and 68 aresizing rollers 'i6'V opposite ends of nectedto eaclr end of the tieV rod32 of the frame Iljjis a- V belt B0 this beingV receivedV by the groovesdl of vthe`^upperrnost-1ollers 'i6 as shown infFig. 3. The belts'l are yieldably held in podiscs 61 and 68 rotate carrying the sizing rollersA sition by springs 8| which are connected to bolts 82, the latter being adjustably received by suit-V able brackets 83 mounted on the angle bars 29 and 33. Y

The mandrel i3 includes a pair of heads 85 and 86 rotatably mounted on the shaft 65 just inside' positioned in meshing relation with the pinion 12 of the shaft 10. It is thus clear that the mandrel I3 is at all times locked against rotation relative to the frame by the meshing of the pinions 1| and 12 with the gears 31 and 88.

Suitably mounted below the sizer |0, as diagrammatically shown inFig. 1, is a belt conveyor 90.

Operation Y In the preparation of citrus fruits for shipping,

the fruit is washed, dried, polished and accurately Y separated according to size prior tothe packing thereof. It is common practice to separate the extremely small fruit from the large after all the fruit is washed and before itA is polished, etc. For this purpose a primary or pony sizer is employed. Y

The sizer l of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in conjunction with a fruit washer |00. The washer |00, shown fragmentarily in Figs. l and 3 includes a frame |02 in which a plurality of power driven cylindrical brushes |03 are mounted. Also mounted in the frame V|02 above the brushes |03 are power driv- Ven cleanout members |04, the latter rotating at uniform R. P. M. to feed the fruit along'on top of the brushes |03, each row of fruit being delivered separately from the washer by the endmost cleanout member 04. Mounted on the discharge end of the washer Y|00 is a sheet |06 of yieldable material such as rubberrrover which the fruit mayroll from the washer |00 Ytothe sizer |0.

, When the shaft 55 of the sizer I0 isrdriven the 13 therewith. Y As shown in Fig. 4 the cam rollers 13 onthe uppermost shafts 14 ride on the cams 33 and l0 while the cam rollers 15 of the lowermost shafts ride on the camsV 60. Itis clear that the spacing betweenV the uppermost Vsizing rollers 16 isV determined by the vertical positionsV of the cams 39 and 40. As shown in Fig. 3 fruit F is fed a single row at a time from the washer |00 onto the sizing rollers 16. Each piece of fruit Fl having a diameter less than' the space between the rollers 15 falls downward between these4 and is trapped between two of the rollers 16 Vand the mandrel I3, the larger pieces of fruit F2 being carried by the rollers 16 andl discharged onto a suitable drop board |0 provided on sizer I0. As the sizing rollers 16 are carriedfrom the top side of the sizer to the bottom thereof the shafts'14 slide in the slots 69 so thatrthe cam rollers 15 thereof ride on the cams 60 rather than the cams 39. As the shafts slide outward the space between the rollers 16 is increased allowing the trapped pieces of fruit FI to drop vfrom the sizer l0 onto the conveyor 90. Y

It will be noted Vin Fig. 3 that the V belt 80 causes the uppermost sizing rollers 16 to be rotated in the direction ofthe arrows. Rotation of the rollersV 16 in this manner causes each piece of fruit to be vrotated so that 'an irregular or eggshaped piece of Vfruit whose shortest diameter is lessV than the spacing between the uppermost rollers 16 will be rotated until it is properly positioned to be sized by these rollers. In addition to facilitating the sizing operation the rotation of the uppermost sizing rollers also assists in discharging fruit from the sizer l0. Y It'will be noted in Fig. 3 'that as one of the sizing rollers designated as 16a approaches the drop board ||0 it is Vcarried out of contact with the belt 80 and as a result stops rotating while the next succeeding roller designated as 16h continues to rotate causing apiece of fruit F2 resting upon both the rollers 16a, and 16h to be rolled over Vthe sleeve 16a onto the drop board ||0. f

TheV sizer I0 may be readily adjusted to change the spacing of the sizing rollers 16 when these are at their uppermost positions by rotating the screw 53. This causes rotation of the shaft 41 thusswinging the arms and 56 so as to raise orlower the cams 39. Raising thecams 39 increaseslthe spacing between the uppermost rollers16while lowering the cams 39 decreases said spacing. The graduations Vlll are so'calibrated that the position of finger 42 thereonindicates the maximum size ofruit that will pass between the rollers 16 when the'latter are disposed upperT most.V

Referring to'Fig. l5 I have shown therein a modifiedV form of sizer l5 which is identical with the sizer I0 excepting that cams |6 are employed in place of Ythe'cams 60. The cams H6 are shaped to provide arcuate surfaces i1 and i |8, the former being disposed closer to the axis Vof the rotor I2 than the latter. As the cam rollers 15 pass `from the surfaces ||1 tothe surfaces ||8 the spaces between adjacent sizing rollers 16 increase so that the fruit Fl is segregated into Vtwo sizes of which thev smaller size F3 is dropped on 'Y the right side' of a conveyor |20 while the larger size F4 is dropped onto the left side thereof. It is'thus clear that the sizer` |5 in addition to separating the fruit into large fruitFZ and small fruit FI also divides Vthe small fruit FI into two groupsV according to size.

Although I have'shown and described but one Vpreferred and one modified form of my invention said rotor and parallel to said axis, said mernbers Vbeing rotatably journalled at their opposing ends on said heads; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; means for feeding articles to be sized onto said sizing membersV when'said members are'disposed above said axis;v means for 'A receiving from Asaid members the larger of said Yarticles which fail to pass between said members;

means for receiving the smaller of said articlesV Ywhich pass betweensaid members; and means for rotatingjsaid members while the larger of said articles are resting thereon. Y Y

2. Ina sizer for rollable articles the combination of a rotor mounted on a horizontal axis and including two rotor heads; sizing members Vdisposed'in spaced relation with each other on saidrctor and parallel to said axis, Vsaid members being rotatably journalled at their opposing ends on said heads; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; lmeans for feeding Yarticles to be their sizing function.

`members rotate in a Vdirection reverse said rotor. i

-saidtasizing :frcll'ersrwhenthe vrzlattensare disposed i above.;s`aid: axis ;f; meansv for .z rotating said i rollers -while.;the. latterf.are..sizing; said articles; means :forareceivingr'fromsaid: rollersthe `larger of said articles: which fail. to pass between. said. rollers; r

articles are resting thereon; and means to selectively determinethe distances whichseparate l said members during lathe .performance f of their sizing function.

.'1 3i 11n. a v.sizer for. rollable articles" the combination-oft a-rotor mounted von ahorizontalaxis and including two rotor heads;-Y sizing members 115 i-saidlrotorand parallel to said axisgsaid members disposed inspaced relation-V with each other on being rotatably. journalled at their opposing ends ron'.` said l heads; means for rotating-x said. rotor faboutfsaid. axis; meansfor feeding articles to be Y sized onto said sizingmembers when said members are disposed'above said axis; means for .re-

`ceivingirom said members the larger of said articles whichtfail Vtotpassl between said members;

meansfforfreceiving1thesmaller of said. articles whichV pass .between :said members; means for rotating said members while the larger of said articles are resting thereon; rand means vto, ad- .'just thetspacin'g ofsaidzfmembers from said axis to selectively determine the distances which separa-te11saidk members ldur-ing. the performance of l which. said to that of 4.: A combination-as lin daim 1 in 5. A combination. asin .Claim 1 in which'said members are cylindrical rolls vand rotate in a direction reverse to thatofsaid rotor.

.6. A combination as in claim 1 in which said lmembers fare cylindrical rolls.,l and rotate' in a direction reverseto that of said rotor, the speed of pointson the peripheries ofsaid rolls relative. tosaidsrotorsbeing considerablyin excess -of the absolute velocity of pointson saidrotor equally distant from said axisias the aforesaid points.

Acombinaticn as inaclaim 1 in which said members are kcylindrical .rolls and rotate'in'ia direction reverse ito'that ofsaid rotor, 'said rota tion of each of said sizing ,membersaceasing -just so discharged.

prior to the discharge of said larger fruit which rests above said.` sizing member.

8. In a sizer for rollable articles the combination of a rotor mounted on aY horizontal axis; sizing members rotatably mounted on 4said rotor in spaced relation with each other and parallel with said axis; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; means for feeding articles to be sized onto said sizing members when the latter `9. In a sizer for rollable articles the combination of: a rotor mounted on a horizontal axis; sizing rollers disposed in spaced relationship with.

. each other on said rotor and parallel with said axis; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; means for feeding articles to be sized onto means disposed-,within ,'said' rotor.. and` in.; spaced vrelation i'withzinwardlyf; disposed .faces iof said rollers.f'orgconningthe smaller. of said. .articles whichipass between said rollers to aY space adja cent the. inner faces-'.ofzsaidzrollers.until the latter t1() move .belowt the' level aof .saidV axis ;1 means causing aspreadin'g "of saidrollersx as they revolve into a downward pcsitionoon said rotor to permit vthe discharge'of. saidJsmaller; articles from between said rollers; andmean's: for receiving said` smaller "'15 articles when so discharged.

y10. In asizer forrollable articles the combination of: a rotor mounted .-on: a'. horizontal axis; sizing rcllers-.zdisposed r` in spaced relationship with earchr'fother 4Onsaidfrotor. and parallel withfl20 said: axis;-meansfor'frotatingsaid rotor. about .=saidzaxis;. means forzfeedingarticles. to be.. sized onto said sizing .rollers1when the latter are dis- Iposedaabove ,saidxaxis means for rotating said rollersiw'hile the latter are sizing said articles;fl25 means forreceivingfrom said rollers the larger -of said articles which failto pass. between said rollers; means disposed within said rotor and in spaced-relation with inwardly disposed faces of said rollersv for .conning the smaller of saidl articles which pass betweeny said rollers kto a space adjacentthe: inner. faces of said rollers until the latter move below the :level of said axis;means for causing a graduatedspreading of said rollers as thelatter are revolvedinto" downward positions 235 :on said rotor so as to `'permit the discharge of `said smaller articlesfrom between said rollersat different points in the travel of said rollers on .said rotor soas to' effect a segregation .of said :smaller articlesfinto groups -in @accordance witn 40V their diameters; and means for receiving said smaller articles in" said` segregated groups Vwhen the latter are vfrollers.

discharged from between said 11; Ina sizerthe combination of: a rotori45 rotatingsaid rotor aboutsaid axis;'means for .feeding articles'vto be, sized onto said sizingilOl members-when the flatter are disposed above said axis; means for receiving from said memn bers the larger of said articles which fail to pass between said members; means for decreasing the spaces between adjacent members as these descend in the rotation of said rotor to positions beneath the level Vof said axis; means for progressively increasing spaces between adjacent members as these revolve with said rotor in downward positions .thereon to successively discharge the smaller of said articles from within said rotor through the spaces between adjacent members to segregate said smaller articles in accordance with their respective diameters; and means Y for receiving separate groups of said smaller ar- 6.5

.members into the interior of said rotor and the time Ysaid smaller articles are segregated by their discharge downwardly between said members and out of said rotor.

tion of: a rotor mounted on a horizontal axis;

Y a plurality of sizing members; means for mounting said sizing members on said rotor inV spaced circumferential relation with each other and parallel to said axis, said members, when disposed above said axis', being all shiftable radially from said'axis to Vary thecircumferential spacing which exists between adjacent members during the sizing operation; `means for rotating said rotor about said axis ;V means for feeding articles to be sizedV onto said sizing mem- .bers when said members are disposed above'said axis; means for receiving` from said membersV a plurality of sizing'Y members; means vfor roV tatably mounting said sizing members on said rotor in spaced circumferential relation with each other and parallel to saidY axis, said members when disposed above saidaxis being all shiftable radially from said axis to vary the circumferential spacing which exists between adjacent members during the sizing operation; means for ro-V tating said rotor about saidaxis; means'for rotating said sizing'members individually during the sizing operation; means for feeding articles to be sized onto said sizing members when said members are disposed above said axis; means for receiving from said members the larger of said articles which fail lto pass between said members; and unitary settable means for effecting said radial shifting to control theV aforesaid spacing. Y

15. In a sizer for rollable articles the combination of: a rotor mounted on a horizontal axis and including two rotor heads; sizing members disposed in spaced relation with each other on said rotor and parallel to said axis, said members being rotatably journalled at their opposingY ends on said heads; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; means for feeding articles to be sized onto said sizing members when "said members are disposed above saidraxis; means for receiving from said members the larger of said articles which fail to pass between said members; means for receiving the smaller of said 13. In a sizer for rollable articles the combina- Y articlesY which pass between said members; Y a pair of cams with substantially cylindrical upjlper .surfaces and Adisposed atV opposite ends of said rotor; means causing said members to iollow said upper faces of .said cams during the sizing of articles by said members; and means to adjust said cams 'vertically relative to said axis.

"16. In a sizer for rollable articles the combination of a rotor Vmounted on a horizontal axis; a plurality of sizing members; means for mounting said sizing members on said rotor in spaced circumferentialrelation with each other and parallel to said axis, said members, when disposed above said axis, being all shiftable radial-l ly from said axisV to Yvary the circumferential spacing which exists between adjacent members during the sizing operation; means for rotating said rotor about said axis; means for feeding articles -to be'sized onto said sizing members when said members are disposed above said axis; meansV for: receiving from saidV membersV the larger of said articles which fail to pass between said members; and unitary settable means fr effecting Vsaid radiali shifting to controllthe Vand parallel to said axis, certain of saidmembers being shiftable to vary thecircumferential spacing which exists Ybetween adjacent mem- -bers during the sizingroperation; means for feeding articles to besized onto said sizing members when said members are disposed above said axis; means'for receiving from said members the larger of said articles which fail to pass between said members; and unitary settable arcuate cani means for effecting said shifting to control the aforesaid spacing, said last real cited Vmeans being disposed outside of said rotor and beingV operableV for the purpose stated while said rotor is rotating.

HALE PAXTON. 

